Three Indonesian universities will conduct a feasibility study on the development of the Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed railway

The Research and Technology Application Unit (BPPT) and the Bandung Institute of Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a pre-feasibility study on increasing train speeds between Jakarta and Surabaya.

The study is to have an objective description before deciding on the alternative of technology, financing and implementation of the plan.

The preliminary feasibility study is being carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Transport in cooperation with three universities – ITB, the University of Diponegoro (Undip) and the Institute of Technology of Sepuluh Listopad (ITS).

“The feasibility study aims to determine the ideal train speed between Jakarta and Surabaya. We will conduct a survey for each region. Jakarta-Cirebon via ITB, Cirebon-Semarang via Undip and Semarang-Surabaya via ITS,” said BPPT chief Unggul Priyanto.

The collaboration between the three institutes was intended to assist the BPPT engineering team complete the duty quickly. The feasibility study will include geotechnical studies.

It was previously decided that the speed of the Jakarta-Surabaya train would match the planned Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train will run at a speed of 300 km/h. However, later the BPPT decided that the speed could be 160 kilometers per hour.

“The state-owned railway company PT KAI wants to cover this distance in 6-7 hours. The Ministry of Transport wanted a speed that would enable it to cover this distance in 4-5 hours. We want a Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train, but the cost is too expensive,” Unggul said.

The Jakarta-Surabaya high-speed train would help reduce congestion on the Jakarta-Surabaya highways. A speed of 160 kilometers per hour could make PT KAI more competitive in terms of speed compared to airlines.

“The most important thing is to attract more travelers to travel by train rather than by plane. Ticket prices do not differ much,” he added.

The pre-feasibility study is anticipated to be accomplished by the top of this yr and BPPT will submit a study report back to the Ministry of Transport and the Directorate General of Railways.

“Once the study is accomplished, the federal government will determine when construction will begin. It will depend upon the financial situation,” he said.

Meanwhile, the federal government has decided to decide on Japan as a partner within the revitalization of the railway line connecting Jakarta with Surabaya in East Java.